Faces of Murder 2016 part 3

In Charleston county’s seventh homicide a black male was shot to death during a domestic incident on 4 February. That shooting took place at 1900 Hazelwood Drive in West Ashley. I found it curious no one has bothered to report the name or details of the deceased. If you patronize any of the local news outlets you would not know that 22 year old Zackary Alexis Aiken is the person who lost his life. How did I find this out even though the information seems to be embargoed for some reason? I checked social media for “RIP” messages and found his Facebook page which told me what I needed to know. Zackary Aiken went by the name “Snoopy Sosa Aiken” on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

Aiken had a criminal history dating back to 2012 with a history of drug distribution charges. As usual, most of his charges were either dismissed or reduced to possession charges. At the time of his death Aiken was free on bond on two pending charges of violation of probation. One of those charges was from 2014, the second was from 2015.

At last report authorities were searching for a “person of interest” in the death of Aiken. That suspect is Joshua Grampus, who is currently free on bonds totaling $55,000 on charges of PWID marijuana, distribution of crack cocaine and unlawful possession of a pistol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grampus was also charged in 2014 after investigators executed a search warrant at a Tripe Street Residence. Grampus was charged with trafficking crack/crank, possession of a pistol during a violent crime and unlawful neglect of a child after the raid on 3 April, 2014. He was released from jail in May of 2014 on a bond drastically reduced by Judge Gosnell. Grampus subsequently failed to show up for court. Even so, the solicitor’s office dismissed all of these charges against Grampus in July of 2015. Grampus was arrest two months later on his still pending drug distribution charges.

This case may very well go down as a stand your ground case. Of course, I can only base that theory on what is being reported in the media and we all know how accurate that is.

 

On 6 February police found Donnell Louis Benjamin dead in a Pearson Street home after he forced his way in after being shot.

 

 

 

 

Benjamin had a criminal history dating back to 2001 for drug distribution, stolen cars and murder. He was charged with the 2002 murder in the death of Terry Dunbar, allegedly during a fight over drugs. Charges against Benjamin were dismissed. Benjamin killed again in 2005 when he shot Sherman Smalls in the head in the Ferndale neighborhood of North Charleston. Benjamin was charged with murder and armed robbery.

Smalls also had a criminal history that included charges of burglary, crack cocaine possession and pointing a firearm. It is quite common in these criminal on criminal murders for the solicitors office to reduce the murder charge to voluntary manslaughter. Benjamin took an Alford plea to that charge and was sentenced to 10 years. Benjamin was released from prison in 2013 or 2014, but he left his prison Facebook page up. Not much to see there.

According to the latest news this murder is being logged as a justified killing. It seems Benjamin got into a beef with someone at a Ladson Road party. That person left the party, but did not go home because he was afraid Benjamin would show up. Given Benjamin’s history of killing people I can’t say I blame him. Benjamin tracked this individual down, however, and started shooting at him. The victim returned fire and ended Benjamin. Something our prosecutors and courts couldn’t do.

WCBD has identified the victim of Benjamin’s aggression as Paul Darnell Williams. He took Benjamin down with what authorities say was a “legally purchased” weapon. The twist is that Williams has pending charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and 1st degree assault & battery from 2014. He is out of jail on a reduced and consolidated bond. According to news reports Williams was charged in April of 2014 after he stabbed a 16 year old in the back during a brawl on Upjohn Street in the Liberty Hill Neighborhood. Although Williams was also charged previously with CDV of a high & aggravated nature and has an attempted murder charge pending, he has not been convicted of any offenses which would bar him from buying, owning or possessing a firearm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murder number 8 in Charleston county has been ruled self-defense. There may be a chance that murder number 7 could go that way, also.

 

News reports indicate the first Berkeley county murder of 2016 has occurred in Hanaha. Paula Lynn Anderson, 45, has been charged with murder in the death of her 68 year old mother, Frances Anderson. No details have yet been released regarding the mechanics of the murder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:

Charleston county – 8 murders, 8 black male victims, four black males charged, police looking for at least five others, one of the eight victims was killed by another black male, but the case was determined to be self-defense.

Berkeley county – 1 murder, white mother murdered by white daughter.

 

 

Faces of Murder 2016

I think I will make “Faces of Murder” a regular entry here. It should go a long way toward showing where the bulk of the violent crime originates. Thus far in 2016 we have had five murders.

 

The latest homicide occurred in the vicinity of 2775 Ranger Drive on 23 January. At about 6 p.m. that evening police responded to a reported shooting to find 19 year old Lamonte Dashun Simmons suffering from two bullet wounds that ultimately killed him. Witnesses reported Simmons had been arguing with an acquaintance when the shots were fired. Lamonte Simmons, aka “Sam Low” was well known to law enforcement as a self-identified member of a local gang now known as the “Young Reckless Gunnas”.

 

 

Lamonte Simmons

 

 

Two suspects have been charged with murder in the case. Bryant Bennett, 17, faces the murder charge and a charge of possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Jayvon Deas, 18, just faces the murder charge for now. Based on media reports Bennett is the actual shooter while Deas admitted to giving Bennett the firearm before they headed over to Simmons’ location.

 

 

Bryant Bennett

 

Jayvon Deas

 

 

On January 4th 18 year old Larry Grayer was shot and killed in the Walmart parking lot at 7400 Rivers Avenue as he and two accomplices tried to rob a 16 year old they had arranged to sell drugs to.

 

 

Larry Grayer

 

 

Grayer’s two accomplices, Aliya Young, 17, and Deandre Stevens, 18, were both charged with armed robbery in the case.

 

 

Aliya Young

 

Deandre Stevens

 

 

Zarmell Polite, 16, was charged with murder in the shooting death of Grayer.

 

 

Zarmell Polite

 

 

 

It would appear all three of these suspects are now free on bond. Knowing how these things work I expect the charges against Stevens and Young to be reduced. I also expect the 9th circuit solicitor will eventually drop the murder charge against Polite on the basis of self-defense. They will also overlook the fact that a 16 year old was in possession of a handgun.

 

On 10 January Devante Smiley was shot and killed at “George’s Club” on Scott-White Road in Hollywood. No suspect or arrest information has been released in that case.

 

 

Devante Smiley

 

 

On January 15th Antwan Lamar Green, 26, was shot and killed at Marvin’s Barber Shop on Savage Road. No suspect or arrest information has been released on this case. Given the location of this murder it seems highly likely the suspect(s) is also a black male. Green had an extensive criminal history.

 

 

Antwan Green

 

 

 

January 16th brought another murder to North Charleston. Timothy Jamel Wilson, 30, was shot and killed outside of the “Lovey Dovey” club on Carner Avenue. Wilson also had an extensive criminal history.

 

 

Timothy Wilson

 

 

Richard Antwan Grandison, 36, has been charged with the murder of Wilson. He also faces a charge of possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Grandison is another serial felon with an arrest record dating back to 1997 for charges of multiple weapons violations, violation of probation, assault with intent to kill (multiple counts), failure to stop for blue lights, pointing and presenting a firearm, assaults on police officers, assault and battery with intent to kill and distribution of narcotics (crack). At the time of the murder Grandison was free on a $20,000 bond on yet another charge of resisting arrest.

 

 

Richard Grandison

 

 

I would encourage everyone to head over to the public database and pull up Grandison’s general sessions history. Based on what I see there, 95 percent of his serious felonies were dismissed by the office of the 9th circuit solicitor Scarlett Wilson. I will tell you what most police officers in Charleston and Berkeley counties will tell you. That record is rather typical of that office. Examination of those cases will prove I am being honest when I say crime in the lowcountry is low risk, high reward.

 

We normally don’t hear much from a certain segment of the community when it comes to the violent crime ravaging their neighborhoods. After the murder of Lamonte Simmons one of the usual race baiting types, Pastor Thomas Dixon, showed up on a WCSC story and claimed if there were better parks in the neighborhood Lamonte Simmons would still be alive. As usual, Dixon blamed the city of North Charleston, the North Charleston Recreation Department, and all of you taxpaying citizens (well, you white ones, anyway) of the city of North Charleston for the fact that violent gang members illegally possessing firearms are the leading cause of death in the lowcountry for black males between the ages of 15 and 35.

 

As I was about to wrap this up I got word of yet another murder in North Charleston. I’m still waiting on details, so look forward to the next installment of the “Faces of Murder” series.

 

 

Lowcountry Murder

A shooting at Marvin’s Barber Shop on Savage Road led to the death of 26 year old Antwan Lamar Green. No suspect information has been disseminated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the time of his death Green was free on bond on a pending September 2014 charge of 2nd offense possession of marijuana. Green was also on probation after pleading guilty in 2013 to two counts of discharging a firearm into a dwelling. Green had been arrested on those charges and a charge of murder after two separate shootings on Boeing Avenue in February of 2011. The murder charge was dismissed in early 2014 when Judge Gosnell determined at the preliminary hearing there was no probable cause. Green was sentenced to 10 years on each of the firearm charges, suspended on time served and probation.

Green had a criminal history dating back to 2008 which includes weapons charges, drug charges, armed robbery charges (plead down to simple assault).  Most of Green’s other firearm charges were ultimately dismissed.

 

Timothy Jamel Wilson, aka “Mel Wilson“, died of bullet wounds sustained early Saturday morning at a North Charleston club known as “Lovey Dovey” located on Carner Avenue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wilson has a criminal history dating back to 2002. He was the recipient of a number of beneficial plea agreements with the 9th circuit solicitor’s office. In addition to multiple arrests for public drunkenness and failure to pay child support Wilson has arrest (and a few convictions) for charges of drug distribution, weapons offenses, ABHAN and robbery.

 

On 10 January Devante Tramaine Smiley died of gunshots wounds suffered at a Hollywood club on Scott-White road known as “George’s Club”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smiley has prior conviction for burglary and receiving stolen goods as well as numerous traffic offenses. He was free on bond on a pending 20115 charge of habitual traffic offender at the time of his death.

 

There has been no indication anyone has been charged in either of these cases.

 

The murder total for Charleston county for 2016 stands at 4. The first murder victim was Larry Grayer who was shot as he attempted to rob someone during a drug deal in a Walmart parking lot on 4 January. Grayer paid the price with his life. His two fellow armed robbers, Deandre Stevens and Aliya Young have bonded out of jail. At last report Grayer’s killer, 16 year old Zarmell Polite, was still in custody.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far, the faces of murder, suspects and victims, remain the same for 2016 as they were in previous years.

News Notes 9 January

Admit it. You were wondering how long it would take before the protests in the Slager case led to violence. The first attack is now documented. Friday night at least one suspect took action. Described by the media only as a person of “skinny build, 5″10″ in height and wearing dark clothing”, the attacker threw one of two molotov cocktails at a Hanahan home formerly occupied by the Slager family. You should be able to determine the intelligence level of these protesters by their cries for the resignations of Mayor Summey, Chief Driggers and Scarlett Wilson because a black judge appointed by Jean Toal to handle the Slager case let him out on bond. The judge, however, is free from criticism. Based on that lack of intelligence it is safe to assume the person who tried to burn down that house thought the Slager family still lived there and had no inhibitions when it came to potentially killing the wife and child of the accused officer.

James Johnson of NAN told the media they should not assume any protesters were behind this attack as he attempted to deflect attention from this obvious act of domestic terrorism. The media is also complicit as they have failed to accurately report what has been happening at North Charleston City Hall where protesters have been shouting slogans like “kill cops” on a regular basis. Johnson knows how dangerous his fellow protesters from BLM and other groups really are, but does not want to admit it in the media. He even got into a public beef with one of the militants, known as Shango Osoosi. Here is a sample of the stuff that fellow puts out.

 

 

 

 

All of these groups claim they want the justice system to work. That isn’t exactly true. The justice system doesn’t work as intended when militants threaten violence, engage in violence and attempt to influence justice by doing so. BLM and various other militant groups have done the same thing in Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, New York City, etc.

Yet law enforcement officers who show moral support for a friend and co-worker going through trying times are racists who can’t be trusted to fulfill their law enforcement duties. Go figure.

When Judge Clifton Newman initially declared Slager a “danger to the community” and refused to set bond at the first hearing he was a hero to these militants. Anyone with common sense knows bond was initially denied because the only danger to the community was from the violent actions threatened by these groups if bond was set. Now that the judge’s hand was forced by Scarlett Wilson’s inability to handle two big cases at once Judge Newman is a “coon”. For those of you who are not aware “coon” is one of those racist terms white people can’t use, but black liberals throw around freely when referring to blacks who don’t toe the party line. General Colin Powell was a coon until he let the pressure get to him and changed his political views to the liberal side of the aisle. Now he is a hero.

During a meeting at the International Longshoremen’s Hall the racist groups demanded all white people leave so the black folks could have a “safe space to talk about community unity”. Apparently community unity does not include the liberal pale skinned members of groups like Lowcountry Peace or the SC Progressive Network. The racists also demanded the media depart the meeting. When will you white liberals learn? At least WCBD reported the racist’s intention to provide false information to the media if the news reports were not done the way the racists wanted them done. I see the racists are following the tips provided by George Soros who has been funding BLM and other organizations to create havoc in the streets. Not that there isn’t a basis for the racists to believe the media will bow to their demands and propagandize for them. I only need to say “Post & Courier” and “Live 5 News” to point out that reality.

These racist groups are frustrated because they have run into a bit of a problem here in the lowcountry they haven’t encountered elsewhere. It seems the people here are content to let the criminal justice system work before they get upset and start looting stores, attacking white people and setting things on fire. The true community unity demonstrated after the murders of nine people in a church runs counter to the kind of “community unity” these racist groups want. Long time residents of the lowcountry know that unity was not a one time thing. Let me remind you of the community unity shown when seven black racists participated in the planned kidnapping, rape and murder of a white woman at the end of 1992. Does the name Melissa McLaughlin ring a bell? At the time the white and black communities came together to deal with alleged threats by an outlaw motorcycle gang to burn down a black church as revenge for that murder. Those who were in law enforcement at the time know that particular threat was never verified, but the media ran with it at every opportunity pointing out “racist whites” allegedly made the threat. No evidence of such a threat was ever found.

The racist groups in town have resorted to sending small groups into restaurants and blocking traffic on bridges and at intersections in their continued efforts to reach the flash point for a race riot. Lowcountry folks keep disappointing them, however. In reality, people in the area are growing weary of these repeated interruptions to their daily routines and these efforts only succeed in drumming up resistance to the message of these racist groups. Citizens are growing weary of all the bullshit.

 

In light of the recent attempted assassination of a Philadelphia police officer I thought I would point out something many of you may not have considered. Assume for a moment that Edward Archer had not mentioned anything about attempting to execute an officer due to his loyalty to ISIS and the Koran. Had Archer not mentioned that motivation we would most likely be hearing complaints from these same racist groups that the white officer demonstrated his obvious racism when he pursued the black suspect who shot him. After all, that suspect was fleeing from the officer and had his back turned to the officer when the officer shot him in the ass. If not for the Islam connection we would be hearing demands for the white officer to be charged, arrested and imprisoned for shooting a black man in the back. To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if that issue still cropped up among the more militant racists.

 

I saw a story this morning and have a hard time believing it is not being blasted across the national media. Two murders were tied to a property at 18 Toro Lane in Burton, SC and three people are in custody as a result. The mother and sons have been identified as Nancy Kennedy, Charles Thomas Brown and Olin Wade Brown, aka “Wade Olin Brown“.

 

 

 

Nancy Kennedy

 

Charles Thomas Brown

 

Olin Wade Brown

 

 

This family of mouth-breathers is accused of murdering two people. The first victim was Katherine Collier, aka “Katie Collier“, aka “Katherine Varney“. She was the girlfriend of Charles Brown, aka “Charlie Brown“, and is said to have been killed inside the residence on Toro Lane before being buried in a shallow grave on the property. She was last heard from right around Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second person the family is accused of killing is Titus Singleton, aka “Tight Sosa Singleton“. He was a well known drug dealer with multiple previous arrests convictions for distributing a variety of drugs including marijuana, cocaine and heroin and multiple firearm charges, along with some ABHAN charges. Singleton’s dismembered and burned body was found in a burned out vehicle on Jenkins Road in Yemassee last month. At least one of his body parts was found buried in a wooded area off of Schein Loop in Burton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe the racist organizations listed above haven’t heard about this case yet, but I’m sure they will head down to Beaufort county and toss a few molotov cocktails as soon as they learn these three white cretins murdered, dismembered and burned a black man and scattered his body parts around the the county.

The worst of the three killers is Olin Wade Brown. Here is a review of his criminal history in Beaufort county.

In 2004 Olin Brown was charged with PWID marijuana. Charge dismissed.

In 2005 he was charged with 2nd degree burglary, criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, ABHAN, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools and possession of a stolen pistol. He entered a guilty plea to most of those charges in November of 2005. Prosecutors and media would tell you Olin Brown was sentenced to a total of 55 years. Unfortunately, a judge set all of the sentences to run concurrent so the maximum sentence Brown received for all those convictions was 10 years.

Olin Wade Brown is currently in the Beaufort county jail on charges of murder and accessory after the fact of murder.

Olin Brown sees himself as some sort of gangsta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Thomas Brown is a pit of a piker when it comes to criminal history, at least when compared to his brother.

In 2013 he was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. That charge was dismissed.

In 2015 Charles Brown was charged with receiving stolen goods – $2000 to $10,000. He was released on a $5,00 bond. This charge is still pending.

 

 

Nancy Kennedy has no previous criminal history in Beaufort county.

 

I will sit back now and wait for this case to hit the national media and the demands for rioting and burning to begin.

 

 

 

 

Killers in Custody

There were a number of shooting incidents in the lowcountry Monday. One occurred in the parking lot of Walmart at 7400 Rivers Avenue. Some news reports indicate the shooting was the result of an arranged drug deal in which the dealers were planning to rob the customer. This led to the occupants of both cars exchanging gunfire in the very public and usually full parking lot in the middle of the afternoon.

Larry Grayer, 18, aka “Otg Larrybird Grayer” ended up dying from his wounds after he was taken to Roper Northwoods by his cohorts, Deandre Montel Stevens, 18, aka “Lo Live“, and Aliya Young, 17. Grayer, Stevens and Young allegedly were planning to rob Zarmell Polite, 16, aka “Prince Polite“, rather than honor their agreement to sell him marijuana. Shots were fired by Polite and “someone inside the car” containing the other three.

Had the trio of robbery suspects checked out Polite’s social media feeds they might have seen this clue from 30 December indicating he might be armed and wouldn’t be such an easy victim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polite is charged as an adult with murder. No bond has been set and no mug shot or court records are available due to his age.

Young and Stevens are charged with armed robbery. They were each given a bond of $200,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

None of these young robbers, killers and dead people have any publicly available criminal history, but my experience tells me you don’t just jump straight to robbery, attempted murder and murder on your first time out of the gate. A review of social media shows at least one of those involved was affiliated with a gang known as “YCOR”. Threats of retaliation and other gang violence are also floating around out there.

Christmas Eve Death in North Charleston

It has been a while since I addressed any local crime, so I did some digging into the guy who was shot to death Christmas Eve at the Extended Stay Hotel near Tanger Outlets in North Charleston.

The deceased has been identified as 19 year old Derek Lamar Burgess. Reports indicate Burgess set a date with an escort (prostitute) using a website known as Backpage. Burgess arrived at the hooker’s hotel room with another male in tow. When the door was opened Burgess and the unidentified male entered. That unidentified male then produced a firearm. This kind of robbery is a rather common occurrence. The prostitute then called out for her pimp/security detail. A struggle ensued and Burgess ended up dead. A 24 year old associated with the hooker was wounded. Burgess’ friend, a black male with dreads, promptly fled the scene in a silver colored vehicle leaving his buddy to assume room temperature.

 

 

Derek Lamar Burgess

 

 

I am sure Burgess was a good kid who was turning his life around after some initial trouble with the law. Uh-huh. At least he seems to have learned something from his conviction on gun charges, like, let the other guy carry the gun.

Burgess, of 4755 Independent Avenue in the Liberty Hill neighborhood of North Charleston, was on probation at the time he committed this attempted robbery which led to his demise.

In February of 2015 Burgess was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol. He was released on bond. In April of 2015 he was charged with pointing and presenting a firearm and discharging a firearm into a vehicle.

On 14 August the prosecutor in the 9th Circuit dropped the pointing and presenting charge down to unlawful carrying of a weapon. Burgess entered a guilty plea to the three counts and was sentenced by Judge R. Markley Dennis to youthful offender sentence not to exceed six years. That sentence was suspended and Burgess was put on probation for four years.

On 4 December Burgess was arrested in Berkeley county on a charge of possession of marijuana. He was released on bond.

I don’t doubt Burgess would have ended up with quite a criminal record had he not been killed.